Motley Crue – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)

After much too long of a wait, 8 years to be exact, we finally have a new Motley Crue disc with all new material.

It has been far too long since the L.A. bad boys have released any good new material. Their last couple of studio albums have been disappointing in my opinion. I have been hoping that Saints of Los Angeles would put Motley Crue back in form.

So was S.O.L.A. worth the wait?

The opening cut, L.A.M.F., sounds like the band was looking for an epic opening ala, In the Beginning from Shout at the Devil. Sadly, this isn’t it. This track is annoying, and should have been left off of the album.

Face Down in the Dirt is the song that should have led off Saints of Los Angeles. This hard rocking tune is one of the better tracks on S.O.L.A.

What’s It Gonna Take is an o.k. track that feels a little bit like filler to me. It isn’t the worst Crue song I have ever heard, but it is far from their best.

I like the tune, Down at the Whisky pretty well. This song would have fit in well with the Girls, Girls, Girls album.

Chances are you have already heard the title track, Saints of Los Angeles a few times as have I. I liked this tune as soon as I heard it, and still do.

Motherfucker of the Year is pretty much the main lyric of this aptly titled song. The song writing is pretty simple stuff, but Motley Crue makes it work. The content has pretty much guaranteed that this tune will get no radio airplay. I doubt the band cares. I like it.

The Animal in Me is a mid-tempo song that feels like another filler song. It isn’t terrible, but just an average Crue song. It does break up the pace of the record, but that is about it.

Welcome to The Machine is not a Pink Floyd cover song (thank goodness). This hard rocking tune is growing on me with each listen.

Just Another Psycho is one of those songs that you either love or hate. Mick Mars has some cool guitar riffs on this song. The lyrics are kind of silly, but this song is catchy.

Anyone that has read the Nikki Sixx book, The Heroin Diaries, will automatically recognize the song title, Chicks = Trouble. This seems like a quick cash in for Nikki Sixx. Vince Neil makes this song work. This song also sounds as if it would have been home on the Girls, Girls, Girls album.

This Ain’t A Love Song is another tune that is just o.k. This isn’t as good as Sick Love Song from the 2005 Red, White and Crue greatest hits compilation, but it doesn’t suck either.

White Trash Circus has a cool sleazy groove to it. I didn’t like this song at first, but it is definitely another tune that will grow on you.

Goin’ Out Swinging is the song that Motley Crue went back into the studio to record, after the album was finished. This late addition was desperately needed on S.O.L.A. Not only is this one of the better songs on the disc, but it gives the Crue a hard hitting tune to close out the album with.

I played the heck out of this disc while I was on vacation last week. While I don’t think this is Motley Crue’s best work, it is most certainly a return to form for the L.A. hard rockers. For this listener, S.O.L.A. was worth the wait!

Recommended Listening!

You can buy a copy of Motley Crue’s Saints of Los Angeles CD at this link.

Rating:Out of 10

Track Listing:
1. L.A.M.F.
2. Face Down In The Dirt
3. What’s It Gonna Take
4. Down At The Whisky
5. Saints of Los Angeles (Gang Vocal)
6. Motherfucker of the Year
7. The Animal In Me
8. Welcome To The Machine
9. Just Another Psycho
10. Chicks = Trouble
11. This Ain’t A Love Song
12. White Trash Circus
13. Goin’ Out Swingin’

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Comments

Hey, I’m 14 years old, and have never met any one else who likes Motley Crue, so I’m pretty glad to see that there are big fans out there.
I love Motley so much, and have never found a better band. There is heaps of great bands out there, but I only ever like a few songs. With Motley, I love the lot.
I think it’s kinda sad that people think their new album isn’t very good. Personally I think it’s some of their best material. And your right (J Edwards) about the whole spark thing. I watched the Carnival Of Sins on DVD, and they aren’t anywhere near as good as they used to be.
But hey, they’re getting older, and thats all part of life….

Huge Crue fan, I love every song on this album. They were amazing at Crue Fest as well. Motley Crue is absolutely my favorite band of all time and I think this album just contributed to their greatness.

I saw the Cincy show the other night. It was a great show. The other four bands were great entertainers. I knew more of their songs than I thought. Vince’s voice was having alittle difficulty carrying through the night.

The night was still fantastic when I spotted Tommy to the right of the stage when BuckCherry was performing. I gave him a big wave and he waved back, now that made my night.

I’ve only heard the title track.As I said, it didn’t thrill me.And “best album in over a decade” doesn’t say too much cuz between ’98 & ’08 what did all 4 original Crue members put out together? The Live cd & the Tattoo cd ? Tommy wasn’t even on that Tattoo cd.Oh, & the best of Dbl Cd thing too.So there hasn’t been much (new) shit from em within the past decade.

I hear ya 100%.Crue is basically a shell of what they were, sorry to say.Look @ AC/DC, older than Motley and never changed from day one,w/the exception of Bon’s death.But Angus & Co. still do what they’ve ALWAYS done,and nothing less.Don’t get me wrong I am a fan of Motley, and I’d buy a ticket if they came into town.But I too have noticed thier change long ago.

Ok hershey, I’ll calm down, sorry about that rant. And Jeremy, you’re right, age shouldn’t matter but it does if they aren’t being true to their fans. The Rolling Stones are old as fuck but people still love and respect them because they have grown up. Motley is a distorted, empty shell of its former self, it’s almost sad to see. The band members hate each other, they drink tea and read (or write) books now after the show then pretend to still be the hard-partying buddies of yesteryear for the cameras. What kind of a man would keep a diary anyway? Aren’t those for chicks?

Hey, J.Edwardssssss! I wuv da crue just wike U.So calm down, no one is JERKING no one off! K? Motley did thier thing back in the day..about 20 years ago.That was top notch.Now w/Mars almost dead,Vince w/a plastic face,Nikki doing what he does (write stuff & pose on stage w/his bass), & Tommy Stink-finger still partyin’ and jammin’,all we can do is wait for them to realize they ain’t 19 anymore…and that WE can HEAR that!!!

Ok, can we quit jerking each other off for a moment? I saw the Girls tour and I saw the Feelgood tour…THAT was Motley Crue, when they were young and brash and seriously kicking ass. Then I saw the Carnival of Sins and…yawn. It’s only natural that they have grown older and wiser (and more boring) and have decided to cash in on their previously well-deserved reputation as the baddest band on the planet.
The problem is, they have lost the spark that used to fuel the Motley Crue fire because the very essence of Crue was a young mans angst. It’s inevitable for this style of band unless they really grow, which they have not. Their new album kinda sucks…but somehow I still bought tickets to Cruefest…cuz I’m a sucker too. Enjoy your new album. Sucka!